5 Points of Safe Driving *Don’t Drink and Drive *Speeding isn’t worth it *Most fatalities occur in smaller roads *Wear your seatbelts! *Don’t be distracted

Each year, traffic crashes in the United States claim about 41,000 lives and produce more than 3 million injuries. These crashes result in $150 billion in economic costs, including $17 billion in medical and emergency expenses, lost productivity, and property loss.

What is.08 BAC?

The amount of alcohol in a person’s body is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called the blood alcohol concentration or BAC. BAC measurements provide an objective way to identify levels of impairment, because alcohol concentration in the body is directly related to impairment.

862 deaths or 29.8% of all traffic fatalities in 1998 were alcohol- related.

Speeding… The consequences.

Most Crashes don’t occur on highways.

An Air Force van sits crushed after its right rear tire blew out and the van slid into a grass median, overturning twice. One Air Force lieutenant died and another required surgery after they were thrown from the van. They were not wearing their seatbelts. The other van passengers, who were wearing their seatbelts, were treated for minor injuries and released.

% of year-old high school students who report rarely or never wearing seatbelts, Tennessee, Davidson, Other Metros

Florida Traffic Safety Facts *In 1998 there were 2,889 traffic fatalities and more than 241,000 injuries in motor vehicle crashes on Florida highways. *Over 59 percent of drivers who were fatally injured were not using available restraint systems.

Estimates show that if Florida had a primary enforcement safety belt law, 200 lives would be saved and 6,134 injuries prevented the first year. This represents $385.1 million in potential savings to taxpayers.

Car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in America – more than 5,000 teens die each year. Inexperience, risk-taking and driver distractions are some reasons why. Loud music, changing discs and tapes as well as tuning the radio are also potentially deadly distractions when behind the wheel. And when a teen driver has friends in the car, the risk is even higher – the more passengers, the greater the chance of a serious crash.

Be careful with cell phones...

A survey of 837 drivers with cell phones found that almost half swerved or drifted into another lane, 23% had tailgated, 21% cut someone off and 18% nearly hit another vehicle while using the phone.

They’re an important part of everyday life, but using a wireless phone while driving increases your chance of getting into an accident by 400 percent.

5 Points of Safe Driving *Don’t Drink and Drive *Speeding isn’t worth it *Most fatalities occur in smaller roads *Wear your seatbelts! *Don’t be distracted